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Machacek, George John
George John Machacek, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2013, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, following a brief illness. Funeral Mass: 2 p.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids.
George is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty; and a son, Dick (Lori) Machacek, Cedar Rapids. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews in this area.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Sue Machacek, who died Jan. 6, 2013; his parents, John and Anna (Novak) Machacek; sisters, Elsie Zajaczkowski and Rosie Vondracek; and brothers, Jerry, Stanley and Robert, all of Cedar Rapids.
George was born Nov. 16, 1922, in Cedar Rapids, and was a lifelong resident. He attended the Czech School for Children with several friends who went to grade school together and graduated from Wilson High School. They remained lifelong friends in Cedar Rapids. George married Betty J. Quigley on Nov. 17, 1945, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church. He was employed at Iowa Light and Power Co. for several years and then worked as a fireman and later a locomotive engineer for the Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. for 38 years until his retirement in 1982. George then worked for RFK Transportation Inc. until retiring in 2002.
George was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He also enjoyed a continuing relationship with Western Fraternal Life Association and the ZCBJ Park where he served on the park board of Wildwood Park (the former ZCBJ Park).
George grew roses and his wife, Betty, a nurse at Mercy Medical Center, would take them to work and give them to the nuns and patients. He was an Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinals fan and a staunch Democrat.
George enjoyed every moment of his life and often relived his railroad memories in his dreams.
Memorials may be given to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under “obituaries.”
“Time to tie up” ...
Published Sept. 26, 2013 in The Gazette
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